Tag Archives: Holliday

You guys know the Mets. You know their history, their tendencies, the promises made that have long since been forgotten.

Almost gone now are Jeff Wilpon’s words after the debacle known as the Summer of 09, the Mets would be an aggressive trading and spending bunch this winter. A little over six weeks later, with the Hot Stove rumors starting to fire, I don’t believe John Lackey or Matt Holliday will be Mets this summer. I see the Mets slipping back into old habits of hoping for their best, in this case, having their wounded back healthy and doing some patchwork here or there.

Patchwork does not come in the form of $90 million or more packages.

I know a lot of you want Lackey and Holliday, or would be willing to settle for only one. That said, how many, knowing what you know about the Mets, actually believe you’ll get one?

I was scanning over the list of free-agent outfielders in trying to find alternatives to the pricey Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, left fielders I’m confident won’t see Citi Field this summer in the home whites. With so many other things on their list, I don’t see them paying in the estimated range of $70 million for Bay and $96 million for Holliday, numbers which have already been reported.

ANKIEL: Let's not forget about him.

My eyes stopped at Rick Ankiel. This guy, although injured last season after slamming into a wall, can play. He can hit, hit for power and play defense. And, he might have the best outfield arm in the majors.

Best of all, he’s not going to break the bank.

A great center fielder, sure but what about Beltran? Perhaps, with Beltran’s aching knees, this might be the time to switch him to left. Or, Ankiel can play left until it is time. Or, maybe move him to right and Jeff Francoeur to left.

Ankiel represents a different alternative to the Mets. He’s productive, although not big ticket. He’s also not a broken down, expensive veteran hanging on like Gary Sheffield. The guy can play and the Mets have too few of those types of players.

The market for Matt Holliday will be expensive. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported the Cardinals are discussing a six-year, $96-million contract. If that’s the club’s starting point, you know it will only end up higher, especially with Scott Boras being his agent.

Holliday’s deal will end up north of $100 million, which I think is too rich for the Mets’ blood. That’s a lot of money, which could improve other areas of the team. As important as adding Holliday would be, the Mets could upgrade their pitching and add a lesser bat, which in the big picture would improve their situation.

The two most intriguing left-field names are Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, and I’m not high of the Mets getting either. Less desirous names are Vernon Wells and Milton Bradley. Both would be a mistake.

Amid reports Boston is offering Bay $60 million over four years, one would think he’ll stay with the Red Sox. Holliday would want more, and with Albert Pujols saying he wants to remain with the Cardinals, that is contingent on being surrounded with support. That Holliday is gone from St. Louis could be a premature assumption.

F-MART: Is it time for him?

Wells is a bad idea considering his numbers are in decline and he has five years remaining on his contract for $98.5 million. If the Mets are willing to spend that much, I’d go for Holliday, but that’s too rich for my blood.

Bradley’s contract calls for two years and $21.5 million, which would be reasonable if he weren’t such a head case and clubhouse cancer. There’s a

Tampa Bay’s Carl Crawford and Pat Burrell, and the Angels’ Gary Matthews Jr. remain options. I’m on board for exploring Crawford, but I’m also beginning to wonder if giving the position to Fernando Martinez would be reasonable.

BRADLEY: Just say no.

Reportedly, he’s not ready, but why not push the envelope with him? Say give him until the All-Star break and see where he is? Could that really hurt him?

Yes, the Mets have been accused of rushing players, and Mike Pelfrey and Lastings Milledge are two examples. But, if the Mets don’t seriously upgrade their rotation they aren’t going anywhere anyway.

As many of you would like to see the Mets throw money at all their issues – starting pitching, left field, first base and catcher – veteran watchers of the team know they aren’t the Yankees and can’t address them all.

Some reports have the Mets focusing on left field – read Matt Holliday – but I still see the team needing to focus on its starting pitching. There’s no lamenting watching Pedro Martinez pitch Game 2 of the World Series tonight as his tenure in New York ran its course.

Mets on their butts again next year without pitching.

However, there are no definitive reports on John Maine, Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey. Maine finished the season strong, which is encouraging, but there’s no guarantees; Perez is coming off surgery, but they haven’t been able to give him a heart or head, not to mention control; and Pelfrey is an enigma. Plus, there are a handful of candidates as the fifth starter.

Go ahead, sign Holliday. Go ahead, add a catcher. But, if the Mets don’t fix their pitching they’ll be watching the Phillies again next October.